Monday, January 22, 2024

Morning Lions Links for Tuesday 1-23-24

Articles:

KEY QUESTIONS: What are the injury updates heading into NFC Championship game?:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/key-questions-what-are-the-injury-updates-heading-into-nfc-championship-game

Lions continue to be big TV draw, averaging 40.4 million viewers for latest win:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2024/01/lions-continue-to-be-big-tv-draw-averaging-404-million-viewers-for-latest-win.html

Dan Campbell admits clock gaffe, but Bucs didn’t even try to make Lions pay:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2024/01/lions-mishandled-the-clock-but-bucs-didnt-even-try-to-make-them-pay.html

Lions O-lineman reportedly undergoes knee surgery, could return for Super Bowl:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2024/01/lions-o-lineman-reportedly-undergoes-knee-surgery-could-return-for-super-bowl.html

Snap counts, PFF grades: Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson terrorizing QBs at scary rate:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2024/01/snap-counts-pff-grades-lions-aidan-hutchinson-terrorizing-qbs-at-scary-rate.html



Super Bowl matchup odds: Lions would be underdogs no matter who they play:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2024/01/22/detroit-lions-super-bowl-matchup-odds-2024/72314105007/




Lions' Penei Sewell Top PFF-Graded Player Against Bucs:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-pff-grades-penei-sewell

Derrick Barnes Vowed to Avenge Missed Prescott Sack:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/derrick-barnes-avenge-missed-prescott-sack


Lions notes: Dan Campbell on Goff’s fourth quarter, eardrums and Jackson’s knee:  https://lionslowdown.com/2024/01/22/lions-notes-dan-campbell-on-goffs-fourth-quarter-eardrums-and-jacksons-knee/

Baker Mayfield salutes Detroit after Lions advance: "This place, they've earned that":  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/baker-mayfield-salutes-detroit-after-lions-beat-bucs


NFL Playoffs Divisional Round Highlights: Notable grades and standout performances (RB JAHMYR GIBBS, DETROIT LIONS - PFF Grade: 84.3.  The debate over whether the Lions did the right thing in using the 12th overall selection on a running back will likely continue for some time, but Gibbs has delivered exactly what the team hoped for. He finished the divisional-round win with 74 rushing yards and 40 receiving yards, forcing a missed tackle and breaking the game open with a 31-yard touchdown run.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-playoffs-divisional-round-highlights-notable-grades-performances-2024

NFL Playoffs Divisional Round: PFF Team of the Week & Player Awards (RB: Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions.  WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions.  LT: Taylor Decker, Detroit Lions.  RT: Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions.  ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: RB JAHMYR GIBBS, DETROIT LIONS -!Drafting Gibbs with the 12th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft was the subject of much criticism, but the Lions will feel vindicated after he came up big in their win over the Buccaneers. He finished the game with 114 yards from scrimmage, including a 31-yard touchdown run that broke open the contest.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-playoffs-divisional-round-pff-team-of-the-week-player-awards-2024


What we learned from divisional round: Mahomes wisdom (Dan Campbell, Brad Holmes have Lions as Super Bowl contenders for years to come - The Lions are going to a conference championship game for the first time since the 1991 season. They won two playoff games in a season for the first time since 1957. They have an opportunity to play for a championship for the first time since 1957.  Since an 0-10-1 start to Campbell's career, the Lions are 24-16 in the regular season with two playoff victories. They are 20-7 in the regular season since a 1-6 start last season with two playoff wins. This is one of the best teams in the NFL thanks to Campbell changing the culture and Holmes running the front office.   Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Derrick Barnes, Alim McNeill, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Aidan Hutchinson, Jameson Williams, Kerby Joseph, James Houston, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell, Sam LaPorta, and Brian Branch were all drafted by Holmes over the past three years. The Lions acquired Jared Goff, David Montgomery, Cam Sutton, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson via trade or free agency thanks to Holmes.  The core of this team will only get better. The Lions are being rewarded for the fruits of their labor.   Weird schedule quirk - The teams that played a playoff game on short rest (Packers, Buccaneers, Bills) went a combined 0-3 in the divisional round. The only road team to win in the divisional round was the Chiefs -- who had eight days rest.  The weather definitely had an impact on playoff scheduling, and the No. 1 seeds in the 14-team playoff format typically play Saturday. It's interesting how one game getting postponed to last Monday and a scheduled Monday night game impacted two teams in the playoffs.  Hopefully, the NFL will avoid Monday playoff games after the Monday night wild-card game contract ends in two more years.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/what-we-learned-from-sunday-nfl-divisional-round-patrick-mahomes-knows-who-to-target-lions-winning-culture/

The First Read, Championship Sunday: One question for each advancing/eliminated NFL playoff team (3.  Detroit Lions - Can Detroit pull the upset?  The Lions have delivered their most magical season in three decades. Now it’s time to learn whether they can take this franchise to the one place it’s never been: the Super Bowl. There would’ve been a lot of doubts about whether Detroit could accomplish that a week ago. That’s all changed after the way the Green Bay Packers attacked the 49ers in San Francisco and nearly pulled a huge upset of their own. The Lions were a safe bet to do what they did on Sunday, which was earn a 31-23 win over Tampa Bay in the Divisional Round. Detroit also has the wherewithal to deal with a NFC Championship Game against the 49ers on the road. The Lions have a dominant offensive line, a strong running game, versatile weapons on offense and a quarterback with Super Bowl experience (Jared Goff). As much as the defense has struggled against the pass, it has been stout in the red zone and heavily dependent on the disruptiveness of Pro Bowl defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. This is a team that basically has built its entire identity on toughness. It won’t be an easy task going into San Francisco to play for the Super Bowl. However, the Lions have proven they can overcome just about anything at this point.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/the-first-read-championship-sunday-one-question-for-each-advancing-eliminated-nfl-playoff-team

FMIA Divisional: Inside Andy Reid’s Notebook, Lamar Locks In, Hutchinson’s Hometown Heroics:  https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/fmia/news/nfl-playoffs-divisional-round-lamar-jackson-andy-reid-kansas-city-chiefs-peter-king-fmia

NFL playoff bracket 2024: Breaking down matchups, schedule for AFC & NFC championship games (3. Detroit Lions vs. 1. San Francisco 49ers:  These teams could not be much more different. The Lions are led by a former No. 1 overall pick and have largely been a downtrodden franchise looking for its first-ever Super Bowl victory. They are a team that embodies their head coach, trying to be the tougher team on the field at all times with the mindset of biting kneecaps.  The 49ers are led by 2023's Mr. Irrelevant, but are in no ways an underdog. San Francisco has been in the NFC championship in now four of the past five seasons, and last reached a Super Bowl four years ago. The 49ers are a finesse team with speed and elusiveness at all levels, whose skill players form a dynamite weapon in large part because of the brilliant scheming of their coach.  All the pressure is going to be on San Francisco. The team's recent inability to finish sterling seasons with a Lombardi Trophy has become a sticking point for the team, while the Lions have a feeling of playing with house money as a young team that is just now starting to flex its muscles in the NFL.):  https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-playoff-bracket-2024-schedule-afc-nfc-championship/ae15b229214d7b173c72aa92


NFL to review fumble through end zone ruling (Lions - Some might have been wondering why Aaron Glenn is in the mix for head coaching jobs despite three uneven seasons as the Lions’ defensive coordinator. He showed why as the Lions’ defense stepped up during Detroit’s 31–23 victory against the Buccaneers.  It was fitting that Glenn sent extra defenders to pressure Mayfield into throwing an interception to Derrick Barnes to seal the win for the Lions. Mayfield had his hot streaks, but he had to work for 349 yards as he faced constant pressure from the Lions’ defensive backs, including slot cornerback Brian Branch and safety Ifeatu Melifonwu. Edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson had another sensational game and defensive tackle Alim McNeill didn’t allow the Buccaneers to gain easy yards on the ground.  Lions coach Dan Campbell has been patient with Glenn the past three seasons, and the unit has taken big strides this season and held it down during a sluggish first half for the offense.  Quarterback Jared Goff made it work against Todd Bowles’s defense by throwing to the middle of the field to Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta. The explosive plays arrived in the second half, primarily from versatile rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs.  There will be plenty of offensive weapons on display for the Lions-49ers NFC title game, but the football public needs to start acknowledging what the Lions are doing on the defensive side.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/2024/01/22/divisional-round-winners-losers-ravens-dominate-bills-lose-to-chiefs-again

Fact or Fiction: Stefon Diggs Has Played His Final Game With the Bills (The Lions have just as many offensive weapons as the 49ers - Manzano’s view: Fact.  The 49ers are regarded by many as the owners of the best offense in the league because of the abundance of weapons for Purdy. But the Lions might have more talented skill players and might also have a better offensive line with right tackle Penei Sewell and center Frank Ragnow.  Sure, the Lions don’t have as many All-Pros as the 49ers, but they have a two-headed monster in the backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery and at least four reliable pass catchers, including tight end Sam LaPorta and wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Josh Reynolds. The 49ers counter with running back Christian McCaffrey, tight end George Kittle and wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Samuel, who could be questionable for the NFC title game. The 49ers also have Trent Williams, one of the best left tackles in the league.  The QB matchup isn’t as sexy as the AFC title game, but there will be plenty of star power from both the 49ers and Lions, especially on the offensive side.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/2024/01/22/fact-or-fiction-stefon-diggs-final-game-buffalo-bills

32 things we learned in divisional round: More Mahomes magic (10. Next weekend will mark just the second appearance in a conference championship game for the Lions. Only one team in the league has fewer berths ...  11. and that would be the Houston Texans, who dropped to 0-5 in the divisional round with Saturday's 34-10 loss at Baltimore.  12. This season was the first in the 94-year history of the Lions that they hosted multiple playoff games, improving their postseason record at Ford Field to 2-0. Prior to beating the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round, the Lions had only played regular-season games in their building since it opened in 2002.  12a. Detroit also won multiple postseason games in the same year for the first time since 1957 – when the Lions scored their last championship.  13. But the Leos have bigger fish to fry. Beat the Niners, and Detroit will no longer be among the quartet of NFL teams to never qualify for the Super Bowl. (The Texans, Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars are the others.)  14. Second-year Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson, a Michigan native who played collegiately at the University of Michigan, soaked in an unfamiliar scene that he'd never experienced as a Detroit fan growing up.  14a. Hutchinson, who has eight sacks in his past four games, is racking up legions of his own Motown fans now as a key to both the Wolverines' and Lions' renaissances.  25. Purdy will be opposed by Detroit's Jared Goff, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2016. Goff spent the past two weeks vanquishing fellow former top picks Matthew Stafford (2009) of the Rams and Baker Mayfield (2018) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  26. And Goff, who played collegiately at Cal, could get a nice boost playing in front of friends and family in his native Northern California.):  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/nate-davis/2024/01/22/nfl-divisional-playoffs-patrick-mahomes-travis-kelce-chiefs-ravens-lions/72306770007/

Video:


Pat McAfee praises Lions for reaching NFC Championship Game:  https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/39363604

Stephen A.: Lions' impact on Detroit extends beyond football:  https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/39362941

Stephen A.: 49ers won't beat the Lions without Deebo Samuel:  https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/39362870

'GMFB' reacts to Lions advancing to first NFC Championship Game since 1991:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/gmfb-reacts-to-lions-advancing-to-first-nfc-championship-game-since-1991


Posted by LionsFan at 9:02 AM

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